Jámbaván
Family: Bears · Role: king · First appears: Book IV, Canto 39 · The Vánar Host
In Book IV, Jámbaván is described as the king obeyed by the bears and a lordly follower of Sugríva. The summary of the southern army names him an offspring of Brahmá. At the council, he urges Angad to leave a task to others, telling the prince, “This task, O Prince, is not for thee.”
In Book VI, Ráma assigns Jámbaván and two other chiefs to guard the rear on the march. Later, Ráma orders him and Sugríva to bring their bravest and force a way to the centre; when the hosts flee, Sugríva sends Jámbaván to stop them, and he steadies the flight. The Vánar chiefs also recall that Indra repaid Jámbaván’s aid with liberal boons, and name Dhúmra as his brother.
In Canto 74, wounded, Jámbaván is cheered by Hanumán’s arrival and “lived anew.” He then sends Hanumán to fetch healing herbs and save the wounded.
Relationship record
Life events
- Ráma assigns the named warriors positions and roles in the army’s march.(Book VI, Canto 4 · The March)
- With: Ráma Lakshmaṇ Hanumán Angad Gaja Gavaya Gaváksha Rishabh Gandhamádan Susheṇ Vegadarśí
- “There be the hill-huge Gaja’s place, And Gavaya’s, strongest of his race, And, like the bull that leads the herd, Gaváksha’s, by no fears deterred Let Rishabh, matchless in the might Of warlike arms, protect our right, And Gandhamádan next in rank Defend and guide the other flank. I, like the God who rules the sky Borne on Airávat mounted high On stout Hanúmán’s back will ride, The central host to cheer and guide. Fierce as the God who rules below, On Angad’s back let Lakshmaṇ show Like him who wealth to mortals shares, The lord whom Sárvabhauma bears. The bold Susheṇ’s impetuous might, And Vegadarśí’s piercing sight, And Jámbaván whom bears revere, Illustrious three, shall guard the rear.”
- Indra repaid Jámbaván for his timely aid with liberal boons.(Book VI, Canto 27 · The Vánar Chiefs)
- With: Indra
- “Of yore his might and skill he lent To him who rules the firmament, And Indra’s liberal boons repaid The chieftain for the timely aid.”
- Ráma orders Jámbaván and Sugríva to bring their bravest and force a way to the centre.(Book VI, Canto 37 · Preparations)
- Sugríva ordered Jámbaván to stop the fleeing hosts, and the flight was stayed.(Book VI, Canto 50 · The Broken Spell)
- With: Sugríva
- “That moment brought Vibhishaṇ near. Sugríva knew the cause of fear, And ordered Jámbaván, who led The bears, to check the hosts that fled. The king of bears his hest obeyed: The Vánars’ headlong flight was stayed.”
- Hanúmán’s arrival cheers the wounded Jámbaván, who lives anew.(Book VI, Canto 74 · The Medicinal Herbs)
- With: Hanumán
- “Cheered by the face he longed to view The wounded chieftain lived anew.”
- Jámbaván sends Hanúmán to fetch healing herbs and save the wounded.(Book VI, Canto 74 · The Medicinal Herbs)
- With: Hanumán
- “Fly, chieftain, to that mountain’s brow And bring those herbs to save us now.”
Book IV, Canto 39 · The Vánar Host
- lord: Sugríva “And Jámbaván the king whose sway The bears delighted to obey, With swarming myriads onward pressed True to his lord Sugríva’s hest;”
Book IV, Canto 41 · The Army Of The South
- lord: Sugríva (Jámbaván is included in the summoned band.) “He summoned Níla son of Fire, And, offspring of the eternal Sire, Jámbaván bold and strong and tall,”
- parent: Brahmá (The eternal Sire is Brahmá.) “And, offspring of the eternal Sire, Jámbaván bold and strong and tall,”
Book IV, Canto 65 · The Council
- ward: Angad “And thee, on whom our hopes depend, Our care must cherish and defend.”
- pupil: Angad “Whate’er thy power and might may be, This task, O Prince, is not for thee.”
Book VI, Canto 3 · Lanká
- with Hanumán (Hanumán names Jámbaván as one of the Vánars who will undertake the enterprise.) “Brave Angad, Dwivid good at need, Fierce Mainda, Panas famed in fight, And Níla’s skill and Nala’s might, And Jámbaván the strong and wise, Will dare the easy enterprise.”
Book VI, Canto 4 · The March
- lord: Ráma “The bold Susheṇ’s impetuous might, And Vegadarśí’s piercing sight, And Jámbaván whom bears revere, Illustrious three, shall guard the rear.”
Book VI, Canto 24 · The Spy’s Return
- lord: Ráma “And Jámbaván of ursine breed, With bold Susheṇ unused to fear, And Vegadarśí, guide the rear.”
Book VI, Canto 27 · The Vánar Chiefs
- siblings with Dhúmra “His brother, next in strength and age, In Jámbaván the famous sage.”
- patron: Indra “And Indra’s liberal boons repaid The chieftain for the timely aid.”
Book VI, Canto 37 · Preparations
- lord: Ráma “Thou, Jámbaván, and thou, O King Of Vánars, all your bravest bring,”
Book VI, Canto 50 · The Broken Spell
- lord: Sugríva “Sugríva knew the cause of fear, And ordered Jámbaván, who led The bears, to check the hosts that fled.”
Book VI, Canto 74 · The Medicinal Herbs
- subordinate: Hanumán “Go forth,” he cried, “O strong and brave, And in their woe the Vánars save. No might but thine, supremely great, May help us in our lost estate.”
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Extracted from the original text of The Rámáyan of Válmíki. Made with Rho MD.